How do I get them out of my electronics for GOOD?? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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How do I get them out of my electronics for GOOD??

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Nickers

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Posted 10 months ago
Sun Jul 1 2012 10:02:33
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Please help me... my place is gonna get inspeted by some cheap crap job PCO.. Seems like the landlord is more concerned about the price than getting rid of the issue. Soo what Ive decided to do is to move out of here but make sure I bring NO BUGS whatsoever. Now I have a computer that I built myself that I have invest ed LOTS of money into and as a result I do not want to just throw it out as I was told... There must be SOMETHING I can do?? I dont mind buying compressed air cans. I can take the thing apart if I have to. I am also wondering what to do with my monitor, TV, speakers and such.. Ive heardo f this DE stuffand read the FAQ but I dont know how I would use it on electronics.

Can someone please provide me with a solution that will work and not damage my computer?? :S

As for other items I will just put them in plastic containers and figure out what to do from there. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Nickers

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Posted 10 months ago
Sun Jul 1 2012 10:05:39
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EDIT: Another thing I'd like to know is.. would opening up and looking inside the PC be enough? How effective is the compressed air.
AshamedandScratching

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Posted 10 months ago
Sun Jul 1 2012 10:10:03
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They don't usually harbor in electronics.

I would do a thourough inspection and use compressed air, take it apart and clean the box in the case of a move. I wouldn't want to risk carrying anything inadvertent with me.

I moved successfully from bed bugs last fall.
Nickers

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Posted 10 months ago
Sun Jul 1 2012 10:30:30
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AshamedandScratching - 19 minutes ago »
They don't usually harbor in electronics.
I would do a thourough inspection and use compressed air, take it apart and clean the box in the case of a move. I wouldn't want to risk carrying anything inadvertent with me.
I moved successfully from bed bugs last fall.

So, when you say "take it aprat" do you mean like remove all the components and like taking out my motherboard and stuff? Or would just taking off the side case and inspecting throroughly be enough?

Thanks for the response :D!
AshamedandScratching

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Posted 10 months ago
Sun Jul 1 2012 10:34:30
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You need to do the best job you can to visually check everything. So if can't see it then I would take it apart. If you're moving you need to minimize risks much more assertively than when you stay where you are. It helped me to know if there were any problems with certain parts of the apartment. The signs were in the things I owned and then I could toss higher risk items. after the move it was reassuring that I had taken the most precautions I could.

The second thing is if you are moving, you're pretty much going to want to bag it in a ziplock or a clear garbage bag to keep it clear. It doesn't do any good if you inspect and then put it back where it was.

In my case, I placed my bags in clear plastic boxes and sealed them with packing tape when they were full. Moving with bugs is the least ideal solutions, so if you have a chance that it might work, it's worth trying to stick it out.
Nickers

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Posted 10 months ago
Sun Jul 1 2012 13:09:32
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AshamedandScratching - 2 hours ago »
You need to do the best job you can to visually check everything. So if can't see it then I would take it apart. If you're moving you need to minimize risks much more assertively than when you stay where you are. It helped me to know if there were any problems with certain parts of the apartment. The signs were in the things I owned and then I could toss higher risk items. after the move it was reassuring that I had taken the most precautions I could.
The second thing is if you are moving, you're pretty much going to want to bag it in a ziplock or a clear garbage bag to keep it clear. It doesn't do any good if you inspect and then put it back where it was.
In my case, I placed my bags in clear plastic boxes and sealed them with packing tape when they were full. Moving with bugs is the least ideal solutions, so if you have a chance that it might work, it's worth trying to stick it out.

This is very useful information thank you I appreciate it! I was planning on just exposing my belongings to the sun since it is so hot but I'm think now that if I do a very thorough inspection of all my electronics and bag them after as you said. I can just expose all other items to the sun and burn the bugs.. How long do you think would suffice? Lets say in like 30C and 40-60% humidity.

Also.. I heard that if you go to bed after drinking alcohol they are less likely to bite.. is this true? 0_o
DougSummersMS

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Posted 10 months ago
Sun Jul 1 2012 13:27:54
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You have several options with various pros and cons

Vikane gas fumigation would be the safest and most effective treatment... Availability and pricing varies by region... You can get a list from Dow chemical of fumigators in your area.

Heat is another option... It must be closely monitored and some computer have storage specs that specify up to 135 degrees F... Liquid crystal displays can be damaged with high heat.

Frozen CO2 device called Cryonite... Some BB specialists will have one... Not a DIY treatment.

Scent detection inspection with a well trained reliable K9 team.

Close visual inspection with air washing... which you have already proposed.

Exposure for at least 7 days in a large contractor bag with a DDVP strip (No Pest Strip / Nuvon).

Placing an active monitor like a Bed Bug Beacon monitor that emits CO2 as an attractant in an enclosure with your electronics for a week would be another option.

Do not use DE... dust is hard on computers.

I should echo the earlier observation that that it is uncommon for electronics to be infested.

It is possible... depending on a number of variables like proximity to sleeping areas, but electronic items are not an attractive choice for BB harborage in most environments when compared to other household items.
rAVENSFAN99

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Posted 10 months ago
Mon Jul 2 2012 14:39:21
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I chose to have my laptop vikane gassed. It's almost a year later and I still have trouble using it (it spends most of its time in a Ziploc bag, but that's my anxiety more than anything else), but it is allegedly very effective. It cost me about $200 because I had so little stuff, they were able to put it in a truck with other peoples' stuff.
jean127

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Posted 10 months ago
Mon Jul 2 2012 17:03:27
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Dr. Changlu Wang of Rutgers University may provide you with a low cost way to rid your computer of bed bugs. I'm no authority; however, the information is here: http://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/a-frosty-reception-new-low-cost-tactic-for-bed-bug-control/
AshamedandScratching

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Posted 10 months ago
Mon Jul 2 2012 17:14:05
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I inspected on my own electronics and didn't have a problem taking any with me. Your mileage may vary. Your comfort level may vary.

ETA: For the most part I based this on where the item was usually and its density. I sleep with my phone. I continued to during my infestation and after. No problems. It's also an incredibly dense item that wouldn't be the most attractive harborage. (I do not call my phones Teddy.) I tossed my old TV & DVD player. They probably weren't infested, but I couldn't check them thoroughly and they were due to be replaced anyway.
P Bello

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Posted 10 months ago
Mon Jul 2 2012 19:40:02
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Some suggestions for electronic equipment suspected of harboring bed bugs:

> Heat: A carefully monitored heat treatment at the mortality threshold may work while not putting your electronics at risk. Of course, the lowere the temperature the longer the exposure duration needed. Consult the heat treatment charts.

> Freezing: As DC will tell you, the freezing of bed bugs takes a long time to attain 100% control. A number of weeks may be needed.

> CO2: O2 deprivation requires close monitoing to assure that no O2 is available within the treatment container.

> CO2 Freezing: Requires direct contact and if this is so, you can eliminate bed bugs with many other less expensive methods if able to access them.

> Pest Strips: Pest strips containing the active ingredient ddvp are efficacious against bed bugs and offer an inexpensive option. Place the item to be treated within a sealed space/container for sufficient time with the pest strip.

Hope this helps ! paul b.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 3 2012 2:04:53
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Also search for "electronics" in the search box at top right-- lots of prior discussions on this, though the basic gist of it is above.
contessabugs

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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 3 2012 20:57:49
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> Pest Strips: Pest strips containing the active ingredient ddvp are efficacious against bed bugs and offer an inexpensive option. Place the item to be treated within a sealed space/container for sufficient time with the pest strip.
Hope this helps ! paul b.

This is your best bet. You can buy one at the big box stores. Put the computer in a sealed big plastic bag with the strip for a few days and it will kill everything and not harm your computer.
cilecto

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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 3 2012 22:12:22
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But follow precautions regarding use inside a dwelling.